Armed men attacked a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria before dawn on Monday, abducting 25 girls and killing the vice principal in a violent raid. The Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko-Wasagu area of Kebbi state, came under assault around 4 a.m., authorities said. Another staff member was injured during the attack. Police described the assailants as heavily armed with “sophisticated weapons,” who exchanged fire with guards before abducting the students. A coordinated search and rescue operation is underway, combing escape routes and surrounding forests.
No group has claimed responsibility, though Nigeria has long struggled with armed bandits in the northern states. These criminal networks specialize in kidnappings for ransom, often demanding thousands of dollars, and have previously targeted schools, villages, and travelers. They are distinct from Islamist militant groups such as Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa Province, whose attacks are ideologically motivated.
Since 2014, over 1,500 students have been abducted in Nigeria, starting with the infamous Chibok kidnapping in Borno state, where 276 girls were taken. In March 2024, more than 130 children were rescued after weeks in captivity in Kaduna state. While security measures have reduced school raids in recent years, gaps in policing and the persistence of bandit networks continue to threaten students and staff in the region.
